Dragons Awaken in Times Square

A dragon boat awakening ceremony was held in Times Square on July 20 ahead of the 27th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York, the largest such event in the city and in the US.

Officiating at the colorful ceremony to kick off the festival, Director of HKETONY Steve Barclay said he hopes the festival would continue to foster stronger Hong Kong-New York sporting and cultural ties.

The “awakening ceremony” featured a blessing ceremony by Buddhist monks to bless the dragon boats, followed by the “eye-dotting” of the dragon boats. There were also an energized martial arts demonstrations by Shaolin martial artists and students.

Hong Kong is the birthplace of modern dragon boat racing, which first started in the city in 1976. Dragon boat racing, now celebrated around the world, is synonymous with teamwork, vitality and dynamism, making it a perfect fit for this year’s 20th anniversary celebrations, whose theme is “Together, Progress, Opportunity.”

The two-day festival (August 12-13) will feature two new boats and a special race dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. More than 200 teams from around the country are expected to compete on the lake at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, representing corporations, community organizations, alumni associations, and more. The festival, which will also include a variety of arts and cultural events by the lakeside, promises to make an excellent outing for a summer weekend.

The HKETONY is the major benefactor of the multicultural dragon boat festival, having initiated it back in 1991.

This year's Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York will have a race dedicated to the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

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